Title: How can video games effect reaction time?

Problem Scenario:

I am trying to figure out how video games are able to improve someones reaction time and how it will effect their reflexes. I want to know if video games can increase the reaction time of a person and potentially increase reflex speeds as well.

Broad Question:

How are video games able to effect a persons reaction time.

Specific Question:

What are the impacts on playing high speed action video games and people's reaction time?

Hypothesis:

High action video games will increase a persons average reaction time and reflexes, because the video game is at a high speeds and after playing for a period of time you are able to react to the actions quicker.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable: Games

Dependent Variable: Centimeters

Variables That Need To Be Controlled: Drop Ruler

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

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General Plan

I am going to test how a video game can increase a persons reaction time. I am going to have someone play the game then drop a ruler and see how fast they can catch it then record the measurements in centimeters.

Potential Problems And Solutions

Corruption in data collecting.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

Ruler could cause injuries if not careful.

Experimental Design

(add the correct headings from the experimental design page before beginning)

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
Game	1	Home	$0
Console	1	Home	$0
Ruler	1	Home	$0
Board	1	School	$5

Detailed Procedure

1. Test subject "control"

2. Drop ruler with centimeters towards them (catch with thumb and pointer finger)

3. Record the measurement of the thumb and pointer finger on ruler

4. Play game and then drop ruler once more

5. Record measurements and start over

6. Repeat with others

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

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Data Table

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Data Analysis

All Raw Data

I collected the data by playing a video game, after playing the game I would drop a ruler and someone else would catch it and I would repeat the process until I had enough data.

Graphs

Photos

Results

All the results were different, but all the points were very close together.

Conclusion

Video games did in fact increase the time of someones reaction time.

Discussion

There were no actual patterns in my data but they were close in term of points on the graph. The strength of the dependent and independent variables relationship is fairly strong and similar to each other. I was able to answer all the questions and correctly. The data had no errors or problems but I had to change my graph type several times. I would improve my knowledge on the subject of this experiment so it could help me do the experiment and do a better job.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

It will help us learn if video games are able to increase reaction time and help with reflex speed. A sports player could use this data to catch a ball in faster succession. It will help the science society by showing the results of how a video game can increase the reaction time of a person.

Background Research

Video games have existed ever since the 50's. In 1952 A.S Douglas wrote his PhD at the University of Cambridge on Human-Computer interaction. Douglas created the first graphical computer game - a version of Tic-Tac-Toe. The game had been programmed on an EDSAC vacuum-tube computer, with a cathode ray tube display. Older games were made out of radar displays as missile simulators.

References

"The History of Computer and Video Games." The History of Computer and Video Games. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2013.

Abstract

Video games are and entertainment source a for us. Reaction time helps us with catching a ball or for doing something very fast paced actions. Both together can make for a way to increase reaction time with only playing video games without throwing a ball. My experiment is to show how fast paced action game can increase reaction time.

For my experiment I got a game console, game, and a ruler to test how fast someone could react to a ruler drop after playing a high speed action game. The speed of reaction from before they played the game to after were compared to each other. After playing the game, it seemed to make a huge change in reaction time. After playing the game it made reactions much quicker than they were before playing the game.

Reaction time is increased dramatically by playing a game and creates much faster reflexes when playing a sport or doing something fast paced that requires attention. Sports players could have a much easier time with catching a ball or dodging obstacles after playing a high speed video game.